Waiting
at the temple, I impatiently tapped my foot,
waiting for the wizard to finish inventorying
the list.
Settled
at his desk, Wizard Green ran quietly over
the list in his hand to make sure all the
columns listed on his report matched. When
he'd determined there were no discrepancies,
he looked up at me. "Everything's clear
here, Mr Adair. The High Priest Malcolm has
left orders that I'm to accompany you to Four
Paradises and aid you in obtaining the Jerhan
Relic for the Ritual of Chaos."
"What?!"
I'd no idea that the damn wizard in front of
me was suppose to trot along for the ride on
my next trip. "You can tell him I don't
allow riders on any of my trips."
Whirling
angrily, I made it halfway to the exit before
the wizard's voice stopped me cold.
"Then all your contracts are voided, Mr.
Adair."
Considering
my contracts with the temple ran for the next
five years, and were worth a pretty piece of
gold, I had to slowly turn back to face him.
My words came out in a pissed-off growl.
"The son of a bitch thinks he has me by
the balls."
"Unfortunately
for the both of us, he does." His dry
retort only aggravated me all the more as I
glared at him.
"Then
you better be ready now. The ship leaves port
within the hour. So I suggest you pack and
meet me at the dock." I could always
hope he didn't make it in time.
His
expression clearly had a pained look to it
before he nodded and said, "Make sure
you don't leave without me. I little like
this as much as you, but neither of us have a
choice."
"One
hour, Wizard Green." Turning on my heel,
I left the office and couldn't make it out of
the temple fast enough.
In less
than ten minutes, I was back on the deck of
my ship. Over the next hour, I stayed too
busy issuing orders to the crew to even
notice if the wizard made it on board or not.
When Dagger Rhoads pulled me aside, he let me
know Wizard Green had been taken down to his
cabin. Sparing only a second to curse the
gods of Sarus, I spent the next few hours
making sure everything was safely stowed away
for the trip to the Four Paradises.
Over
the next two days, the wizard stayed in his
cabin, never venturing above deck. Cook told
me most of his food had remained untouched. I
assumed he suffered from a case of seasick,
which only earned him my deeper contempt. Why
the High Priest thought to saddle me with
such a useless excuse was beyond my
comprehension. The trek through the Abartan
Forest would be dangerous enough without
having to drag along a wizard who had
obviously never left the confines of the
temple.
By the
time we docked and I was ready to leave the
ship, Wizard Green appeared with a small
traveling case in hand. His wan features
proved I'd been right about his bout with
sickness. His long ebony hair made his face
seem all that much paler and the blue of his
eyes stared out at me. He looked helpless and
definitely out of his element. The effect
seemed to tug at me for a moment. Frowning
slightly, I shook my head as I motioned him
to join me.
"It'll
take us several hours to get through Abartan.
You stick close to me and no wandering off.
There's too many fucking dangerous things
lurking in that damn place."
"Aren't
you going to bring others with us?" He
gave me an astonished look.
"No,
it'll slow us down too much. The fewer that
go, the faster in and out. We should be back
to the ship before nightfall."
Shrugging, I picked up my own bag, slinging
it over my shoulder.
Taken
to shore by one of the long boats, we trekked
slowly up the sandy dunes littered with
sparse, dry brush. The unwelcoming feel of
the beach and its jagged boulders that dotted
the sand made sure few thought of this as a
tourist place. The edge of the jungle
stretched from one end of the beach to the
other. There was no way off the beach but to
follow the well-worn dirt path that was
repeatedly hacked out by the those who walked
it.
Machete
in hand, I mildly commented as I led the way,
"The jungle is always trying to take
back this little slice that man keeps carving
into it. Trips out here don't occur often
enough to keep it completely clear all the
way through."
"I've
read about Four Paradises and the forest, Mr.
Adair."
"Read,
but have you ever lived outside that damn
temple of yours? And for fuck's sake, call me
Nick." I hated the Mister handle, it
made me feel like my father.
"You
know very well not many wizards venture
outside the temple, Nick." He carefully
stressed my name. "My first name is
Dale."
He
followed behind me as I began cutting some of
the growth that had crept over the path to
make our way clear. Years of being under the
sun had left my skin bronzed and toughened.
The occasional sting of one of the vines
hitting me didn't even phase me. Pausing to
dig out a tie from my pocket, I pulled back
my blonde hair, getting it out of my face.
Picking up the blade again, I muttered to
him, "Try not to get yourself killed,
Dale. I'm sure High Priest Malcolm would dock
some gold from my pay if you die."
His
quiet answer gave me a mental pause.
"I'm relying on you to not let me die,
Nick." There was a definite
vulnerability in the words that would have
made most people refuse to utter them. It
seemed Dale didn't have a problem with
relying on another person, which actually
made things a whole lot easier on me.
Occasionally
the sound of the local wildlife that teemed
within the jungle reached us. The shriek of a
disturbed corwail sent shivers down both of
our spines. Though they were vicious
creatures when cornered, normally they shied
from human presence.
Keeping
my senses alert, I was constantly aware of
Dale as he followed very close behind me. The
moment I caught the lack of sound, I whirled
quickly right before his scream pierced the
air. Adrenaline rushed through me, in a split
second ready to fight and the sight of the
massive vines that entwined Dale's limbs,
beginning to drag him off the path, had me
slicing at the thickest parts. The panicked
terror on his face had me reaching out to him
with one hand. I pulled him back towards me,
but the strength of the creature caused me to
skid along the path. Quickly, I dug in with
my heels and renewed the slashing at the
green tendrils until I yanked Dale quickly
against me. The remaining vines swiftly
dragged themselves back into the underbrush
as I held his trembling form tight to mine.
Once the danger had passed, a creeping
awareness stirred inside. I could feel the
thin form clinging to me and it aroused me to
an unexpected degree. The material of my
pants strained with the hardening of my cock.
Looking
down at him, wide frightened eyes meet my
grey ones. For a moment, Dale's expression
altered a fraction, seeming to relax as a
small sound rose in his throat. My gaze
drifted slowly over his face, finally taking
in the soft trembling of his lower lip before
my lips claimed his. That pull of attraction
I felt was undeniable as his body molded so
tightly to mine, feeling as if he fit me
perfectly. As his arms wrapped around my
neck, I deepened the kiss, parting him with
my tongue. The sweet taste of his mouth
hinted at his favorite candy with its flavor
of vanilla.
The
sound of a rustling in the brush near us
kicked me back into an alert awareness of our
precarious position. Abruptly I pulled away
from Dale before I spun around and started
back to the path. "Come on. We better
get out of here."
It took
Dale a moment to recover from the sudden
withdrawal before he hastily followed behind
me. I could feel his eyes staring at my back
but I had no clue as to his thoughts. He'd
been willing enough as I kissed him, but it
could have been because I had caught him off
guard in a moment of danger.
Refusing
to think on it, I had to get both of us
through to Four Paradises in one piece and I
couldn't afford the luxury of being lost in
thought. Silence reigned between us for the
rest of the hike. It was a long time before
the sight of the jungle gave way to the
glimmering silver walls of the temple. Behind
its gates was the richest temple in the
seventeen kingdoms. As the gates opened, the
domed central temple came into view. Richly
carved in hues of white and black marble, the
oblong building jutted upward into spires
tipped with gold. One of the priests hastily
came out to greet us and then ushered us into
the main sanctuary.
"Welcome,
gentlemen, we've been expecting you. I'm
Wizard Truener." Bowing to us, he smiled
before he continued. "High Priest Evar
was unexpectedly called away so you won't be
able to meet with him until tomorrow. In the
meantime, I'll be happy to show you to your
rooms where food and drink will be brought to
you."
Normally
that kind of delay would have irked me to no
end. Silently eyeing Dale, I really didn't
look forward to another trek back through the
jungle. So I managed to return Truener's
smile with a degree of a calm before we
followed behind him.
"Your
room is right next to this one, Wizard
Green." Truener said as he gestured
further down the hall and then opened one of
the doors. The room we entered was lavishly
appointed which wasn't surprising for this
place. Dark woods blended with emerald green
in the huge carved bed, and echoed in the
graceful lines of the writing desk and
chairs.
As
Truener clapped his hands, several servants
emerged from a door off to the side, carrying
trays. As the lids were taken off, a rich
variety of fruits and delicacies were offered
to us. As I settled into one of the chairs,
Dale hovered near me, appearing reluctant to
go very far from me. After helping myself to
some of the food and a glass of wine, I
watched Dale pick his own as I began to eat.
"If
you need anything else, simply let me or one
of the other wizards know. I hope you both
enjoy your stay."
"Thank
you, Wizard Truener. The temple's generosity
is unsurpassed." Dale's comment was
diplomacy at its best.
Bowing
to us again, Truener left the room.
Once we
were left alone, I studied him for a long
moment in silence, taking a sip of the wine.
The taste of the rich Paradise wine surprised
me. Apparently we were going to be treated to
the best. "So tell me, Dale, why did
High Priest Malcolm send you to accompany
me?"
Giving
me a level stare back, he seemed to consider
his thoughts carefully before he spoke. His
tone was very low. "I believe he thought
it was convenient way to get rid of me."
Frowning,
I was surprised by his answer, and even more
surprised that he did come with me even
knowing that. "Yet you made the journey
even knowing that. Why? And why would he want
you killed?"
"I
don't excel as he thinks I should. You could
say I'm a very weak wizard and it bothers him
to no end as a stain on the reputation of the
temple. But to admit to that is near
impossible for him, he'd rather I just
disappear before the Jerhan relic is brought
back. My worth is not determined by him, and
going on this trip is my way of proving
that." The whole time he spoke, his
expression maintained a calm, dignified edge
that impressed me. I was beginning to see
much more behind the man than I had
initially.
Sliding
from the chair, I moved towards him as he set
his plate down. He'd remained standing the
entire time he ate, and I could see the
nervous tension stiffen his body as I
approached him. Storm blue eyes held mine
with a mixture of barely suppressed need and
fear. It drew me closer to him as did the
memory of the flavor of his mouth.
"It's
not a wise indulgence, Nick." The words
hardly made it from his lips before mine
claimed his again. As my arms circled his
waist, pulling him in against me, I felt that
tension relax as he molded his body to mine.
With
the harder nudge of his hips, I could feel
his cock pressing against mine and I hastily
broke off the kiss to quickly remove his
robe. It was strange to realize the man that
I had at first held in contempt now drew only
thoughts of lust to whatever little part of
my brain was still functioning. Hungrily, my
gaze slid over him. His lanky, muscular frame
drew my immediate attention, lingering over
the contours of his body. The sight of the
magnificently thick cock of his made my mouth
water.
As I
pressed him back towards the bed, he slid
over the covers and I followed him, kneeling
between his parted legs. His dark blue gaze
followed me as I lowered my head, taking his
cock quickly in my mouth. The small taste of
liquid on the head was as sweet as his lips
were. Drawing the thickness deeper into my
mouth drew a series of soft groans from him
as his hands moved to my hair. His words came
from him in gasps of breath. "Need. You.
Nick."
That
immediate response pleased me immensely.
Slowly taking my own taste of him, my tongue
slid along the underside as my mouth
swallowed him. His hips arched up, trying to
drive himself even deeper as I felt the
almost painful tug of his fingers in my hair.
"More, please. Don't. Stop."
I had
every intention of stopping, just not quite
yet. My hand slipped to beneath his balls,
gently massaging them and the more sensitive
spot underneath them. Dale shuddered in
reaction, drawing in a harsh, quick breath. I
released his cock and lifted my head to meet
his eyes, staring down at me in a dazed lust.
His hands slipped to my shoulders,
desperately trying to pull me up. As I
shifted position, I wet my hand to slick over
my cock. My own need to feel the tightness of
his ass surrounding me drove me more hastily
than I normally liked.
With
the guidance of my hand, I pressed the head
inward at the crack of his ass. Staring down
at him, I watched the play of expression as I
slowly slid inside him. The taut mask of
pleasure held me captivated as did the feel
of heat enveloping my cock. His body
shuddered beneath me when I was fully buried
in him and the sensations drew their own
shudder from me. My control at best was
tenuous and the writhing beneath me broke
what little I had. As I lowered my head to
capture his moan, my hips pulled back only to
thrust hard back into him. My tongue mimicked
the furious movement as I fucked him. Each
forward drive sent the harsher need curling
over my senses until all I could think of was
the need for my own release. The slap of my
balls against his ass heightened that.
Before
I could lose it entirely, my hand slid down
his chest and then lower to curl around his
cock. In time with the motion of my hips, my
hand stroked over him. For him it took very
little. As I released his lips, he called out
my name as the warmth of his come spilled
over my hand. When his muscles clenched
tightly around me with the uncontrollable
shudder of his body in a deeper orgasm, the
sensation dragged me under. The thrust of my
hips buried into him as deeply as I could as
my own release pulsed through me in
shattering waves.
"Dale."
The one word escaped me as a groan of sound
as I came. The slippery stickiness of his
come slicked between our bodies as he held to
me.
When
the feeling began to ebb, I drew my own deep
breath, trying to come down from the high.
Staring down at him, I knew this wasn't going
to be a temporary thing. I wouldn't be
satisfied with that. I didn't think he would
either. Feeling myself still buried inside
him, the intimate sense of that drew out my
protective instinct towards Dale. It had
begun when I'd first seen him emerge from his
cabin on the ship and then strengthened when
I'd saved his life. Now it was even stronger.
Quietly,
I said, "I think Wizard Green is going
to disappear before we make it back to
Sarus."
From
his expression, I knew my words had
completely surprised him.
"There's
no way to do that, Nick."
"Yes,
there is." Rolling off of him to my
side, I continued, "When we dock, you'll
remain on the ship and I'll report your
unfortunate death to the temple
wizards."
"You
want me to stay with you?" Turning to
face me, he stared at me uncertainly as if
not certain of what he had heard.
"If
you want, Dale. I would like you to, but that
part is up to you."
"But
how will you pull it off? There will be an
investigation and I wouldn't put it past High
Priest Malcolm to drag you over the coals on
it."
A pass
of my hand over my wrist revealed the tatoo
of a shield with black rose. As I looked over
at Dale, he stared at it in shock,
whispering, "You are of the Order of the
Black Rose."
Nodding
slowly, I smiled. Everyone knew of the most
famous mystical cult in all the seventeen
kingdoms. "There is nothing High Priest
Malcolm can do to you under their protection,
Dale."
And I
would make damn sure of that.
